Meridian Hill Park

 

Visiting Meridian Hill Park

Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcolm X Park, is an over 11-acre park and a National Historic Landmark in northwest Washington, DC. It is located along 16th Street between Euclid and W Streets NW.

The park is open 5 am to midnight May through October and 5 am to 9 pm November through April.

Please remember:

• All dogs must be on leash while in the park.
• You must apply for a special use permit to hold events or activities in the park.

For a full list of rules and regulations, see the Superintendent’s Compendium and the Code of Federal Regulations.

Points of Interest

 

 

Meridian Hill Park in 1936

National Park Service History Collection / Ezra B. Thompson

History of Meridian Hill Park

The park has had a long and varied history. In 1819, John Porter erected a mansion on the grounds and called it "Meridian Hill" because it was on the exact longitude of the original District of Columbia milestone marker, set down on April 15, 1791 at Jones Point, Virginia by Major Andrew Ellicott assisted by Benjamin Banneker, an African-American astronomer and mathematician. It was to this mansion that John Quincy Adams moved when he left the White House in 1829. At that time, the entire high ground surrounding the park was known as "Meridian Hill."

During the 19th century the environs of Meridian Hill became host to Columbia College, precursor to George Washington University. Prior to the Civil War, the mansion grounds became a pleasure park for the area. During the war, Union troops encamped there.

In 1910, the grounds were purchased by the United States government and transferred to the stewardship of the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds. In 1914 the Department of the Interior hired landscape architect George Burnap to draw plans for the general development for a grand, formal park to be modeled after the Renaissance and Italian gardens that could be found in the world's great capital cities. The plans presented were later revised by landscape architect Horace Peaslee under the watchful eye of the Fine Arts Commission of Washington, D.C.

The plan conceived by Burnap and Peaslee was one that would depict an Italian garden, composing or using garden concepts from Italy. The stepped character of the park design was somewhat reminiscent of the former King Victor Emmanuel III's gardens. The actual planting scheme was designed by New York landscape architects Vital, Brinckerhoff, and Geffert. Generally, gardens of this magnitude were reserved for aristocrats. Meridian Hill, however, was to be a product of democracy, open to all people.

Construction was begun in 1914, but it was not until 1936 that Meridian Hill reached the full status of a formal park. In 1933 the grounds were transferred to the National Park Service.

Meridian Hill Park is unique in that it served as a laboratory for experimenting with a new medium of construction -- concrete aggregate. Concrete aggregate consists of small pebbles specially selected for size and color from which forms are pulled while the surface is still susceptible to treatment. Wire brushing and acid washing are then used to expose the texture.

 

 

Status of features in Meridian Hill Park

Cascading Fountain and Reflecting Pool

The cascading fountain was turned off in 2019 when the NPS began the rehabilitation of the lower plaza. During the project, it was found that more repairs were needed to get the fountain working properly again.

Several critical components of the fountain need replaced, and extensive concrete work is needed to fix damaged areas.

The NPS is dedicated to restoring this historic fountain which is a centerpiece of Meridian Hill Park and one of the longest cascading fountains in the country.

The earliest the fountain project could receive funding is fiscal year 2027.

Armillary Sphere

The NPS installed a new armillary sphere on the lower plaza of Meridian Hill Park in November 2024. The NPS removed the original sphere in the late 1970s because of damage and vandalism. The new sphere is a replica based on the original and was re-created using historic photographs and drawings.

This project was possible in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation through the generous support of Roger and Susan Gendron.

Joan of Arc Statue

In November 2024, the Joan of Arc Statue underwent restoration work. This work included: replacing a missing part of the spur and part of the bridle on the statue’s left side; repairing minor cracks in the granite base; and treating the statue with hot wax to remove minor rust.

This project was possible through Rock Creek Conservancy by a gift from the Jeanne d’Arc Foundation of Le Lyceum Société des Femmes de France à New York via the New York Community Trust.

Lower Plaza

From December 2020 through February 2023, the lower plaza in Meridian Hill Park underwent work to improve accessibility and rehabilitate the historic landscape.

The new accessible route provides easier entry to people who use wheelchairs. The route is from the corner of 16th St. NW and Florida Ave. NW/W St. NW to the lower plaza of the park and continues to the east with access to the plaza in front of the President James Buchanan Memorial.

The NPS replaced and repaired damaged historic concrete walls, walkways and stairs to improve safety and preserve historic architectural elements of the park.